Princess Charlotte Bay

Princess Charlotte Bay is a large bay on the east coast of Far North Queensland at the base of Cape York Peninsula, 350 km north northwest of Cairns. Princess Charlotte Bay is a part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and it is a habitat for the dugong.

Princess Charlotte
2007 image from NASA's Terra satellite showing plumes of sediment flowing into the bay
Location
CountryAustralia
StateQueensland
RegionFar North Queensland
DistrictShire of Cook
Physical characteristics
Length61 km (38 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftNormanby River, Bizant River, North Kennedy River, Marrett River

Reefs in the bay are described as pristine.[1] Barramundi habitat and associated wetlands exist in declared green zones which restrict commercial fishing.

History

The bay is in the traditional lands of the Bakanambia and Jeteneru people.[2] The bay was named after Princess Charlotte of Wales by Lieutenant Charles Jeffreys of the British Royal Navy in 1815.[3]

Princess Charlotte Bay and surrounds were devastated by the shrek Mahina Cyclone of 1899 which destroyed all 100 ships moored there at the time.[4] Other estimates suggest a lower figure of 82 boats destroyed.[2] On the 4 March 1899, the entire North Queensland pearling fleet was in the bay where they regularly collected supplies and unloaded shells. Around 100 Aboriginals who were assisting survivors ashore and 307 men from the pearling fleet were drowned in Queensland's worst maritime disaster.[2]

Geography

The most easterly point of the bay is Cape Melville. Also in this area is Flinders Island, part of the Flinders Group. The bay's most westerly point is Claremont Point.[3]

Normanby, Bizant, North Kennedy, Marrett and Morehead rivers terminate in the bay. Marine fossils and old beach ridges have been discovered well inland along the river systems. This indicates the bay has been experiencing a gradual infilling.[2]

During spring tides salt water inundates low areas for several kilometres inland.[2] Mixed mangrove forests predominate in tidal areas. The adjacent wetlands are one of the largest in Australia.[5] Extensive areas of seagrass beds exist on the bay's seafloor. There are also large areas of tidal flats covered in sand and mud.[5]

Protected areas around the bay include Cliff Island National Park, Lakefield National Park and Cape Melville National Park. The best boat access to Princess Charlotte Bay is from the Bizant boat ramp which is 20 km from Bizant.[6]

Fauna

The Bizant river shark is a rare species of fresh or brackish water shark. More common marine species found in the bay include barramundi, blue salmon, grey mackerel, queenfish, grunter, mangrove jack, tiger prawn and mud crab.[5]

Both Princess Charlotte and nearby Bathurst Bay have some of the highest densities of dugong in Queensland.[7] A Special Management area has been established in Princess Charlotte Bay.[8] It aims to protect the dugong from commercial net fishers by limiting the number of fishing permit holders.

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See also

References
  1. "Run-off damages reefs, researcher". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 September 2005. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  2. Shilton, Peter (2005). Natural areas of Queensland. Mount Gravatt, Queensland: Goldpress. pp. 16, 17, 29, 32. ISBN 0-9758275-0-2.
  3. Princess Charlotte Bay. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on 10 June 2011.
  4. Jane McCredie (12 November 2008). "Storm historians forecast future". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  5. "Declared Fish Habitat Area summary: Princess Charlotte Bay" (PDF). Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. July 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 April 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  6. "About Lakefield". Department of Environment and Resource Management. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  7. "Cape York Local Marine Advisory Committee". Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
  8. "Special Management Areas". Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2011.

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